Mid-Prairie set for 2A quarterfinal clash

Mid-Prairie football is hoping to leap over the hurdle it failed to overcome in 2024. The Golden Hawks have returned to the Class 2A quarterfinals for a second straight season, and once again find themselves two wins away from playing for a state championship.

The Golden Hawks lost to PCM on the road in the 2024 2A quarterfinals. This year, a 7-1 regular season and playoff wins over North Fayette Valley and Mediapolis earned Mid-Prairie a chance to punch a ticket to the state semifinals in front of its home fans when it faces Van Meter on Friday.

Mid-Prairie had no trouble with Mediapolis in the 2A second round. The Golden Hawks won by 41 points when the two teams squared off Oct. 10, and increased that margin of victory with a 46-0 blowout last Friday.

Quarterback Brooks Weber only attempted 12 passes, but completed nine of them for 209 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Hudson Ehrenfelt averaged 12.1 yards per carry and scored twice on the ground.

Mid-Prairie continues to be a dynamic scoring machine on offense. The Golden Hawks’ 63 touchdowns are the most in Class 2A. 32 of those touchdowns have come through the air, also the most in the class.

Explosive plays on defense have also been massive for the Golden Hawks during their run. They have four defensive touchdowns this season and lead all 2A teams with 10 forced fumbles and 14 fumble recoveries. Mid-Prairie added four more takeaways against the Mediapolis, including two interceptions by Kendrick Kos.

Mid-Prairie will have to keep that same energy on both sides of the ball against a balanced Van Meter side. The Bulldogs (8-2) beat South Tama County and Roland-Story to reach the 2A quarterfinals and are riding a five game winning streak since a 17-14 loss to Clarinda on Sept. 26. Their only other defeat was a 29-21 loss to Des Moines Christian in Week 1.

The Bulldogs have also found sustained postseason success. Van Meter reached the 2A semifinals last season and won the 2A state championship in 2023. That feat immediately followed back-to-back 1A titles in 2022 and 2021.

Quarterback Henry Lounsbury is a dual-threat option on offense. The senior is 88 of 150 for 1,294 yards and 16 touchdowns through the air. He is also second on the team in rushing with 489 yards and six touchdowns.

Though he’s completed just under 59% of his passes, Lounsbury has been able to limit turnovers in Van Meter’s passing game. He’s thrown just three interceptions this season, tied for the second fewest among 2A quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts.

Lounsbury has also found a bevy of receiving targets this season. Six Bulldogs players have at least two receiving touchdowns. Andon Watson leads the team with 24 catches for 382 yards and three scores.

Van Meter balances its passing offense with a deep rushing attack led by sophomore Christian Williams, who has 826 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Tate Doggett has 373 yards and five touchdowns and Lexon Blevins has 127 yards and three scores.

Williams also leads Van Meter on defense with 69.5 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks. Luke Steinfeldt has six of the Bulldogs’ 18 sacks this season along with 10.5 tackles for loss. Senior Adam Glade has 36 tackles, including 10 TFL and 4.5 sacks.

Like Mid-Prairie, the Bulldogs have been productive in turning teams over. Their 10 fumble recoveries are tied for the third most in 2A. They also have nine interceptions, including two pick-6s by Cody Deemer. Watson and Holden Buse each have two interceptions to their name.

Kickoff between Mid-Prairie and Van Meter is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Mid-Prairie High School. The winner will play in the 2A semifinals Nov. 15 at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.